In the fall of 2011, when two professors at Stanford University
shared a taped version of their popular computer science course online,
little did they realize that they were heralding a revolutionary new
medium of learning, the Massive Online Open Course, or the MOOC, as it
has come to be known. More than 120,000 students from across the world
registered for their course and within 12 months, MOOC platforms such as
Coursera, Udacity, and edX came into existence.

MOOCs are often
free pre-recorded courses that are streamed online and are available to
hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world. There are
thousands of MOOCs available from dozens of platforms taught by world
famous experts and novices. It’s a free market and anyone can offer a
course and anyone can take them. They offer the flexibility of learning
on demand. Students can learn whenever it is convenient to them. They
use high-quality videos, embedded software, quizzes and polls to deliver
a highly engaging and interactive learning experience.

Pundits
predicted that MOOCs would rapidly replace brick-and-mortar schools and
universities. Educational publishers across the world fretted that MOOCs
would replace text books and e-books, and scurried to add video and
interactivity to their digital content...

Further, a student can today earn a university degree entirely online at
a fraction of the cost of a traditional degree. Many universities,
including the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan,
Georgia Tech and Imperial College London, partner with MOOC platforms to
offer entirely online degrees in carefully chosen disciplines, largely
in business and computer science, as an enhancement to their distance
learning programmes.Read more... Source: Livemint

For the second consecutive year, girls from middle schools across
Luxembourg were invited to join a workshop organised by 'greenlight for
girls' and Vodafone Foundation Luxembourg.

This year's even was organised in collaboration with the Luxembourg
Ministry of Education and SCIPT, a branch of the ministry dedicated to
promoting and coordinating research and technological innovation
throughout the education system to improve pedagogical practices.

The
two-day workshop saw 155 girls, aged 11 to 15, invited to Vodafone
Luxembourg to learn more about science and technology in ways meant to
inspire them. They were introduced to female role-models from Vodafone
Luxembourg who aimed to motivate the girls to pursue a future in STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.

After
customising their own lab coats, the girls listened to inspirational
talks from Princess Tessy and Melissa Rancourt, Founder of greenlight
for girls, and several female role models from Vodafone Luxembourg.
Working in break out groups. Girls had the opportunity to discover the
secrets of coding, dive into procurement, or learn about cyber security.
The girls also benefitted from mentoring sessions, interacting with the
25 volunteers and STEM role-models present each day.

Princess Tessy de Nassau — who is, among many roles, a UNAIDS Global Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls, anambassador for Montessori St Nicholas, and currently raising fundsfor
her education non-profit Professors Without Borders — welcomed the
girls and led a biology workshop where she taught them the secrets
behind DNA...

Ninian Wilson, CEO of Vodafone Procurement Company (based in Luxembourg)
stated “As a global technology company it’s important for us to promote
and drive STEM education for girls. Along with our Vodafone Foundation,
we’re ready, and uniquely placed to support our local community in
Luxembourg. We know the future is exciting, and we want to assist
in building future STEM leaders and creating a more vibrant and gender
balanced workplace”.Read more... Source: RTL Today

Maryville University President Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University of St. Louis, explains his institution's approach to implementing technology-based, personalized education.

Photo: Maryville University

Thanks to the digital transformation that defines our
age, most of us walk around with a library in our pocket. Today's access
to vast information is unprecedented and transformative.Yet, in higher education, the approach to disseminating information remains fundamentally unchanged after 2,500 years.The professorial lecture still reigns supreme at many
institutions. Students still sit in rows of seats and desks, facing the
"front" and the instructor. Even technology still primarily extends the
one-way dissemination of content from faculty to student.As colleges and universities, it's time to recognize that we
are no longer keepers of knowledge. We must serve instead as agile
facilitators of knowledge, evolving and adapting to the new reality of
how information flows through the world...New roles and models in student-centered learningAccess to information does not guarantee an education.
Professors with expertise and real-world experience remain vital to the
personalized-learning process. They can guide a student's journey from
limited knowledge and awareness to understanding, application,
discernment and critical problem-solving.

If this doesn't sound like a departure in theory, it is in
practice. More than ever, professors must create learning partnerships with their students and with other professionals...

Colleges and universities can take a variety of approaches
to reorient toward student-centered learning. At Maryville University,
we've built our model around engaging students, faculty and staff in a
continuous and sustainable process of active learning focused on
improving student outcomes.Read more...

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Mark Lieberman, Digital Learning Reporter at Inside Higher Ed reports, Last fall, professors told us about their plans to experiment this year with technology-enabled teaching. Now they reflect on the successes and shortcomings.

Photo: Istockphoto.com/simonapilolla

The end of the school year is a time to reflect on accomplishments
and -- ideally -- to abandon regrets, or at least learn from them.Last September, professors from institutions around the country
shared with “Inside Digital Learning” their plans for new classroom
initiatives and made some predictions about what they might accomplish.
We came back to them recently to ask how they went. A few said they're
too busy with an end-of-year crush of grading to reply. Here's what the
rest of them reported back.Read more... Source: Inside Higher Ed

What makes an entrepreneur? Find out in our new podcast series by Jeff Skinner, Executive Director of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

From Facebook and LinkedIn to Instagram and Twitter, most of us have had
some form of online presence for significant parts of our lives (for
digital natives, make that all of our lives), which means there’s a
trail of stuff about us “out there” that we have completely lost sight
of. Worse still, we’ve lost sight of who has access to it – and what
they do with it. Reflecting on this phenomenon gave LBS MBA and
entrepreneur James Chance the idea for a new business: a service which
enables individuals to manage their “personal brand” and protect their
online privacy.

By exploiting new European data protection legislation, yourself.online
helps individuals control web-based information about them, making it
easy to edit what other people can – and can’t – see about them.Read more...

Who doesn’t recognize the hegemony of Netflix in the entertainment
world, batting giants like Microsoft Google, Amazon and Apple for the
top spot? And who wouldn’t want to be the “Netflix of gaming”?, continues Tunf.com News.

Photo: Tunf.com News

It is an apt analogy. Major contenders are vying for the title. The
players are the winners in the battle as they are seeing new cloud
gaming platforms and better digital-only consoles like the Xbox S1 that
just launched at an affordable price in the U and US.Digital NativesCall the Shots
The target market is clear. The “digital natives” portion of the
population are demanding a faster experience than the old, sluggish
consoles. They want their content delivered as fast as lightening. They
are already enjoying upgrades to favorites like Minecraft, Forza Horizon
3 and Sea of Thieves.Read more... Source: Tunf.com News

e-learning lab of the Directorate of Open
and Distance Learning was inaugurated at Dibrugarh University in
collaboration with Oil India's Corporate Social Responsibility, inform Avik Chakraborty, Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh.

Photo: Northeast Now

An e-learning lab of the Directorate of Open and Distance Learning was inaugurated atDibrugarh University in collaboration with Oil India‘s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Monday.The e-learning Lab was inaugurated by vice chancellor of DU, Prof Ranjit Tamuli
in presence of resident chief executive (RCE) of OIL, Pranjit Deka,
registrar of DU, Dr Hari Chandra Mahanta, D K Bhuyan, general manager
(Pubic Affairs), OIL and the teaching and students’ fraternity of the
university in eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh.The objective of the
project under OIL’s CSR is to develop learner’s interest in latest
educational technology and equip them with proper skills through online
learning mode.Utilizing basic education and learning skills, the youths can find better jobs or start their own small businesses...Two demo video lectures were released on the occasion for showcasing the
output of the e-Learning lab. The first demo video lecture was of Prof
Nasim Wazid Ali, retired professor of DHSK College, Dibrugarh on Income
Tax and the second demo lecture was of Dr Rizwan Rehman, assistant
professor, Center for Computer Science and Applications, Dibrugarh
University on Java Programming.Read more... Source: Northeast Now

Recently revealed to Association members at its 2019
Annual Meeting & Conference(DEAM19) in Naples, Florida, DE
Academy seeks to elevate professional development for human resources
professionals with courses tailored to provide content and top-notch
instruction with the flexibility desired by today’s busy practitioners.
Courses are available for both Members of the Association and
non-members, allowing for expanded eLearning opportunities for all.

“DE Academy meets the learner where they are, on their time. We want to
promote professional development that improves the learning experience
and outcome for all, resulting in real ROI through instruction and
application,” commented Jen Bernhardt, VP of Member Engagement.

Many HR professionals desire to continue learning, but are often met
with busy schedules, leaving many to put professional development on the
back burner. DE Academy seeks to offer a different kind of learning
which combines the best of traditional education with the flexibility of
today’s modern learning expectations. By combining knowledge from
recognized experts with industry-best instructional design methods, each
course will provide a learning experience that maximizes the learner’s
time and potential. Self-directed instruction also allows the learner to
complete courses at their leisure. Currently lessons range from
Affirmative Action Planning 101 to Disability Etiquette and are led by
the following experts:..“We are delighted to partner with DirectEmployers Association to deliver
transformative professional development experiences for their learners,”
stated Paul Dooley, CEO, WBT Systems. “TopClass LMS is a powerful,
flexible education platform, unifying learning across DE Academy and DE
Connect online community to allow DirectEmployers to deliver impactful,
integrated learning at the point of need, whenever and wherever learners
chose to connect.”

DirectEmployers is a nonprofit member-owned and managed association
focused on providing its 900+ members with simple solutions for OFCCP
compliance and online recruitment challenges. The Association’s
proprietary technology powers a federal contractor compliance solution
that assists with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s
(OFCCP) VEVRAA mandatory listing requirements and Section 503 outreach
requirements, while also offering recruitment marketing and creative
services that help win the best candidates with a combination of vivid
recruitment videos, real-life photos and bold branding through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Recruit Rooster.

About WBT Systems and TopClass LMS:

WBT Systems develops the industry-leading TopClass Learning Management
System (LMS), named Best Continuing Education & Association Learning
System 2019 and #1 Association Learning Management System in 2015, 2016,
and 2017. TopClass LMS delivers transformative professional development
experiences for association education and certification programs. With a
single point of support from our in-house integration experts, TopClass
LMS easily integrates with a wide variety of systems to provide
efficient administration and a unified learning experience. Our focus is
to support associations in using learning technology to help drive
growth in membership, increase revenues, and enhance the learning
experience. We believe in truly understanding your challenges and
partnering with you to ensure the success of your education programs.
Learn more at www.wbtsystems.com. Read more...

After learning about a lack of places for homeless people to shower, a
Sauk Rapids couple will begin running a mobile shower unit in June.

Jason Jaques and Nancy Dyson stand next to their mobile shower van. Photo: Dave Schwarz | St. Cloud Times

Nancy
Dyson and Jason Jaques first brainstormed locations where homeless
people could access showers after someone asked if they knew of places
to go.

"We just looked at each other like, 'I don't (know),'" Dyson said. "It was heartbreaking."...

Jaques and Dyson began working on the idea of a self-contained unit, built in a small passenger van, a couple years ago.

Known
as Shower the People, it will be operated under the couple's nonprofit,
Neighbors to Friends. The van will be ready for its first showers June 4
at Kipp's Laundry starting about 10 a.m., according to Jaques.

Jaques
and Dyson plan to take the truck to people who need it, providing
access to a shower as well as meals and time to hang out. Read more... Source: MPR News

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Development of educational mobile apps in 2019 by Robert Rundle (robert@gadgetadvisor.com) online content writer.

Photo: Gadget Advisor

Introduction When the number of mobile users outgrew the number of people who choose desktop devices first back in 2016,
it was a clear sign that our world is becoming fast-paced and on the
go. Since that epic moment, the pool of mobile users grew
exponentially, which triggered app developers to start focusing their
efforts on mobile platforms. As one could anticipate, gaming
applications reign supreme when it comes to a number of users,
downloads, and launched applications, followed by business apps, while
education app niche takes a strong third position...

Conclusion These were some of the most notable mobile education app development
trends to look for this year. As the technology progresses, so do the
trends change, however, the timeline of these trends seems to push the
importance of each of these trends higher with every passing year. We
really hope some of this information will be of use for your future
projects and serve as an inspiration for your personal and professional
development.Read more... Source: Gadget Advisor

Contact me

About Me

Hello, my name is Helge Scherlund and I am the Education Editor and Online Educator of this personal weblog and the founder of eLearning • Computer-Mediated Communication Center.
I have an education in the teaching adults and adult learning from Roskilde University, with Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and Human Resource Development (HRD) as specially studied subjects. I am the author of several articles and publications about the use of decision support tools, e-learning and computer-mediated communication. I am a member of The Danish Mathematical Society (DMF), The Danish Society for Theoretical Statistics (DSTS) and an individual member of the European Mathematical Society (EMS). Note: Comments published here are purely my own and do not reflect those of my current or future employers or other organizations.